Device for clearing impurities from the atmosphere

ABSTRACT

Oppositely charged electrode cones or electrode cylinders are adjustably supported so that one cone or cylinder is within the other cone or cylinder but spaced therefrom, whereby air currents attracted to and flowing through the electrostatic field have particles of impurity acquire the charge of one of the electrodes and are repelled to be collected on and adhere to the other electrode cone or cylinder. Specifically the cones are made of fiberglass and the adjacent faces of the cones are coated with fiberglass wool. The cylinders may be of larger diameter and may be made of steel.

United States Patent 1191 Gaylord 154] DEVICE FOR CLEARING IMPURITIES FROM THE ATMOSPHERE [76] Inventor:

Greenbrae, Calif.

22 Filed: Feb. 16, 1971 21 Appl. No.2 115,631

521 U.S.Cl. ..ss/128,55/2,55/145, I 55/146, 55/149, 55/155, 55/1910. 38 51 1111. C1. ..B03c 3/06 [58] Field of Search....55/2,- 145, 146, 103, 136, 149, 55/123, 150,155,151, DIG. 38, 127,128

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS John A. Gaylord, 31 Corte Ortega,

14 1 Mar. 27, 1973 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 7/1970 Great Britain ..55/ 130 10/1960 Great Britain ..55/127 Primary Examiner Bemard Nozick Attorney-George B. White [57] I ABSTRACT Oppositely charged electrode cones or electrode cylinders are adjustably supported so that one cone or cylinder is within the other cone or cylinder but spacedtherefrom, whereby air currents attracted to and flowing through the electrostatic field have particles of impurity acquire the charge of one of the electrodes and are repelled to be collected on and adhere tothe other electrode cone or cylinder. Specifically the cones are made of fiberglass and the adjacentfaces of the cones are coated' with fiberglass wool. The cylinders may be of larger diameter and may be made of steel.

4 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTEUmmma' 3,7 2,1 3

SHEET 10F 4 fig. I

INVENTOR JOHN 'A. 6A YLORD ATTORNEY PATENTEUHARZYIQYS 3 722,1 3

SHEET 2 OF 4 9 w T T o o 0 o 0 T? y 0 0 0 O 0 ,N filtn 0000003 "I INVENTOR. JOHN 4. GA Yl-OPD ATTORNEY PATENTEDHARZTISH SHEET 30F 4 ATTORNEY PATENTEDHARZYIQB SHEEI 0F 4 INVENTOR JOHN A. GAYLOED ATTORNEY DEVICE FOR-CLEARING IMPURITIES FROM THE ATMOSPHERE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The use of electrostatic field in a manner to use oppositely charged elements spaced apart so as to charge of the spacing between the electrodes in accordance with .the atmospheric conditions, and to enable the arrangement of the size and number of electrodes in such a manner as to accomplish the purification of large masses of air,,particularly to provide a device whereby air could be treated and purified in sufficiently large masses to free the atmosphere of so-called smog.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of management of a battery of fiberglass electrodes in operating'assembly.

FIG. 2 is a face view of a battery of electrodes on the adjustable frame.

FIG. 3 is a side view partly in section of the battery of saidelectrodes. 1

FIG. 4 is a detail view of the electrode cones indicating the electrowiring on the exterior cone.

FIG. 5 is a detailed view partly in section indicating the electric wiring on the inner electrode cone.

FIG. 6 is a detailed view of cylindrical electrodes partly in section.

FIG. 7 is a top'plan view of the cylindrical electrodes.

FIG. 8 is a side view of a smaller inner cylindrical electrode.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of FIG. 8. 7

FIGS. 10 and 11 are respectively side view and plan view of a cylindrical inner electrode of a different size.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In the illustrative embodiment of the inventionshown in FIGS. 1 to 5 inclusive, a plurality of outer dialectric cones 1 are supported in registry with matching dialectric inner cones 2. On the frame 3 which supports the outer dialect'ric cones l in a predetermined pattern,

are also supported a plurality of fans or blowers 4 electricallyoperated for thepurpose of circulating air and blowing the air through the smaller end 6 of the outer cone 1 and then-through the smaller end 7 of the inner cone 2 and through the space 8 between the cones 1 cone 1 is made of dielectric material, preferably fiberglass, and the inner surface thereof is'co'ated with fiberglass wool 17 as indicated in FIG. 5. The inner cone 2 has a conductor wire 18 cemented to its inner periphery as shown in FIG. 5 and the outer periphery of the inner cone 2 has a coating of fiberglass wool 19. Ex-

perimentally the following proportions were found I about one-quarter of an inch thick.

The conductor wire 16 is connected by suitable wires 21 to one terminal of suitable source of electricity and the inner wire 18 is connected by suitable wires 22 to the opposite terminal of suitable source of electricity whereby an electrostatic field is created between the cones. I

The intensity of the electrostatic field is determined by the potential difference between the opposite electrodes formed'by the inner and outer cones and it also can be varied by the relative position of the adjustable inner cones 18. The unit is surrounded by a suitable wall, such as tent walls 23, shown in FIG. 1 so as to form a windbreak at about the ground level.

Thus the air from the atmosphere is drawn into the.

area by the fans or blowers 4 and it is forced to flow through-the open ends ofthe/cone electrodes 1 and 2. As the air travels from the smaller end of 'the outer cone 1 toward the smaller end of the inner cone 2, the particles acquire the same charge as that of the outer electrode 1' and are repelled from the outer cone and fly against the surfaces of the inner cones 2 and adhere thereto and are collected thereon. Such of the particles which may acquire the charge of the inner cone 2 fly against and adhere to and are collected on the inner surface of the outer cone 1. v

In practice the spacing between the inner periphery of the outer cone 1 and the outer periphery of the inner conev 2 is normally about four inches depending on weather conditions and other atmospheric conditions and may be separated even as far as shown in FIG. 4.

The connector wires 21 and 22 which supply opposite charges to the dielectric cones 1 and 2 respectively, are connected to a generator of current supply of about 45,000 volts to each set of outer and inner cones. The cones will capture practically all particles,

even finest molecular particles and also gases. As the air passes through and around the cones these particles and material, deposits itself on the cones and on all surfaces thereof. The suction fans or blowers draw in and circulate the air in and around the cones.

In the form shown in FIGS. 6 to 11 an outer dielectric drum 31 is permanently supported on a stand 32. A replaceable inner drum 33 is supported by means of a hub 34 on spokes 36 on a central shaft 37 on a base 38.

The inner drum 33 can be thus replaced by a larger drum 39 shown in FIGS. 10 and nor by a drum 41 of smaller circumference shown in FIGS. 8 or 9 thereby respectively to reduce or increase the gap, and the corresponding field between the outer and inner drums. These drums are also'charged through suitable wiring with current of about 45,000 volts and they are effective to greater distances. Batteries of such sets of drums can be arranged pointing upwardly.

- Iclaim:

1. In an apparatus for depositing and collecting impurities from the atmosphere,

' a hollow outer electrode,

a hollow inner electrode insertable into the outer electrode,

said electrodes being adapted to be charged to opposite electric potentials thereby to create an electrically charged field between and within said hollow electrodes, and

means to support said electrodes in the path of air flow from the atmosphere,

said hollow electrodes being substantially frustoconical,

and the smaller end of said inner electrode beinglongitudinally spaced inwardly from the smaller end of the outer electrode, I a

means to direct flow of air intot he space within and between, saidelectrodes through the smaller ends of said electrodes, a frame to support a plurality of outer electrodes, another frame to support a plurality of inner electrodes,

and means for adjusting the relative longitudinal 7 each of said electrodes being made of fiberglass,

and fiberglass wool coating on the inner surface of the outer electrode and on the outer-surface of said inner electrode. 4. In the apparatus specified in claim 1 air circulating means ,to create a forced flow inwardly of the smaller endsipf said electrodes. 

1. In an apparatus for depositing and collecting impuRities from the atmosphere, a hollow outer electrode, a hollow inner electrode insertable into the outer electrode, said electrodes being adapted to be charged to opposite electric potentials thereby to create an electrically charged field between and within said hollow electrodes, and means to support said electrodes in the path of air flow from the atmosphere, said hollow electrodes being substantially frusto-conical, and the smaller end of said inner electrode being longitudinally spaced inwardly from the smaller end of the outer electrode, means to direct flow of air into the space within and between said electrodes through the smaller ends of said electrodes, a frame to support a plurality of outer electrodes, another frame to support a plurality of inner electrodes, and means for adjusting the relative longitudinal spacing between the inner and outer electrodes.
 2. In the apparatus specified in claim 1, said frusto-conical electrodes being made of dielectric material and each having electrical conductors in the respective walls thereof, said conductors being connected to opposite terminals of an electrical charge source for opposite charges of the respective conductors.
 3. In an apparatus as specified in claim 1, each of said electrodes being made of fiberglass, and fiberglass wool coating on the inner surface of the outer electrode and on the outer surface of said inner electrode.
 4. In the apparatus specified in claim 1, air circulating means to create a forced flow inwardly of the smaller ends of said electrodes. 